Upgrades

EXCEL TRUST INC (EXL) Upgraded by Zacks to NEUTRAL

Zacks Investment Research upgraded shares of EXCEL TRUST INC (EXL) from UNDERPERFORM to NEUTRAL on August 07, 2014, with a target price of $13.10. Excel Trust, Inc. is a vertically integrated, self-administered, self-managed real estate investment trust (REIT) which owns and operates a real estate portfolio of neighborhood and community shopping centers. […]

Upgrades

REGENCY ENERGY (RGP) Upgraded by Zacks to NEUTRAL

Zacks Investment Research upgraded shares of REGENCY ENERGY (RGP) from UNDERPERFORM to NEUTRAL on August 07, 2014, with a target price of $30.40. Regency Gas Services is a midstream natural gas services provider, and a look at our experience, culture and the company suggests an extraordinary ability to grow. It operates in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Kansas, it is one of the fastest-growing gas service companies around […]

Upgrades

CENTURY CASINOS (CNTY) Upgraded by Zacks to NEUTRAL

Zacks Investment Research upgraded shares of CENTURY CASINOS (CNTY) from UNDERPERFORM to NEUTRAL on August 07, 2014, with a target price of $5.60. Century Casinos,Inc. & its subsidiaries,own & operate a limited-stakes gaming casino in Cripple Creek,Colorado & are pursuing a number of additional gaming opportunities internationally & in the U.S.The Company was formed to acquire ownership interests in,and to obtain management contracts with respect to,gaming establishments.The Company generally seeks to enter into gaming operations in areas with attractive demographic attributes,high population densities,local tourism and/or predictable traffic patterns,w/ the long-term objective of establishing geographic project diversification. […]

Stock Analysts

Agrium’s (AGU) Q2 Earnings & Revenues Top on Retail Strength

Agrium ’s ( AGU ) earnings for second-quarter 2014 topped expectations on record results in its retail business, boosted by the acquisition of Viterra Inc.’s retail operations across Canada and Australia. The retail unit bounced back strongly after being hit by unusually cold weather in North America in the first quarter. Agrium posted profit from continuing operations of $625 million or $4.34 per share in the reported quarter, an around 16% fall from $744 million or $5.00 per share registered a year ago. […]

Stock Analysts

Middleby Beats Q2 Earnings and Revenues on Acquisitions

The Middleby Corporation ( MIDD ) reported improved year-over-year results for the second quarter of 2014. Earnings came in at 85 cents per share, up roughly 26.9% from 67 cents in the year-ago quarter, driven by improved revenues and margins. Moreover, earnings surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 78 cents by 9% […]

Stock Analysts

Thoratec Q2 Earnings Fall and Lag Estimates; Lowers View

Thoratec Corporation ( THOR ) posted a 34.1% fall in adjusted earnings per share to 29 cents for the second quarter of the year from 44 cents in the year-ago quarter and lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 31 cents. Adjusted net earnings dipped 24.1% to $19.5 million from $25.7 million in the 2013-second quarter. Reported earnings edged down about 25% to $17.4 million or 30 cents per share in the quarter from $23.2 million or 40 cents in the comparable quarter a year ago. […]

Stock Analysts

Ligand Gains on Q2 Earnings Beat, Increases Guidance

Shares of Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc. ( LGND ) jumped 10.1% immediately after the company reported better-than-expected second quarter 2014 results and raised its guidance. Although the company lost 2.18% in the subsequent trading session, shares are up 8.1% since second quarter results were declared […]

Max Keiser

Keiser Report: Great Cake Collapse (E637)

[youtube b0uF9lriRYY] In this episode of the Keiser Report, Max Keiser and Stacy Herbert discuss the headlines which prove that a great empire, like a great cake, is most easily diminished at the edges. In the second half, Max interviews Peter Greenhill, Head of e-Gaming Development for the Isle of Man, about e-gaming and cryptocurrencies on the island. They also discuss why the Queen has no crown on the currency notes of the Isle of Man […]

Mergers & Acquisitions

Blackboard Acquires CardSmith

Blackboard Acquires CardSmith Pairing Creates Most Comprehensive Set of Student ID Deployment Options in the Market PR Newswire WASHINGTON, Aug. 7, 2014 WASHINGTON , Aug. 7, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Blackboard has acquired CardSmith , the industry’s leading cloud provider of campus card solutions and turn-key card program management services, Blackboard announced today […]